Actor and educator Alfred Mallia has passed away, aged 70, The Malta School of Drama said.

Mallia will be remembered for his role in Malta’s early television series F’Bahar Wiehed and Leli ta’ Haz-Zghir.

He was born in Attard in 1950, and became a teacher in the early 1970s.

He interpreted the leading role in F’Bahar Wiehed in 1976, the first-ever TV series produced locally.

In 1987 he was appointed head of department in charge of the Education Division’s Drama Unit and, in 1995, was promoted to education officer with the Youth Service Organisation. In 1993 Mallia was appointed head of the Malta Drama Centre. He relinquished the post in 2001 when he became assistant director in charge of adult learning.

In 1984 he founded Koperatturi Theatre Group which became a leading drama company.

He has translated several plays into Maltese and wrote several plays for children.

Source: Dictionary of Maltese Biographies, Michael J. Schiavone